Rockets rally past Mavs

Published: Friday, April 12, 2002

DALLAS (AP)  Steve Francis hit a long jumper to break a tie with 1:35 left in overtime, then set up a 3-pointer by Eddie Griffin as the Houston Rockets overcame a 20-point deficit to beat the Dallas Mavericks 98-95 Wednesday night.

Nick Van Exel got Dallas back within three with a layup, but Dallas missed two chances to tie it in the closing seconds, including a good look by Michael Finley just before the buzzer.

The Mavericks' collapse, the sixth-worst in franchise history, came after they seemed headed toward their record-tying 55th victory. Instead, Dallas fell into a tie with San Antonio for the lead in the Midwest Division.

Francis had 14 of his 20 points after the third quarter as Houston, coming off a 120-117 double-overtime loss to Miami on Tuesday night, ended a four-game losing streak and won for only the third time in 14 games.

The Rockets made only three of their first 16 shots and were lucky to be down only 10 after one quarter. They trailed 47-27 late in the second period, but came out strong in the second half, mostly by taking the ball to the rim.

A 12-4 run early in the third was followed by four straight thunderous dunks to get Houston within three. Then a 10-0 run to start the fourth gave Houston a six-point lead.

The Mavericks came back with help from the officials, who called three offensive fouls against Houston, the third prompting Rockets coach Rudy Tomjanovich to lose his cool and draw a technical. He had to be restrained by three assistants.

Dallas tied the game on that free throw and later went ahead following a flagrant foul on Francis. Another foul on Francis left Tomjanovich screaming, "We're going to protest!"

The Mavs, who had won five of their last six games, led by three in the final minute. But a three-point play by Francis tied it with 51 seconds left and neither team scored again. Cuttino Mobley, who scored 29 points, tried forcing up a shot at the buzzer, but it was blocked by Greg Buckner.

Francis opened overtime with a three-point play and Houston would go up by four, but a 3-pointer by Finley tied the game at 93 with 2:23 left.

Then Francis hit the jumper that put the Rockets up for good and later drove around Finley and kicked the ball out to Griffin, who was wide open at the top of the key. Half the Houston reserves put their arms up to signal the ball was in practically the second it left his hands  and it was.

Griffin, who had nine points and 10 rebounds, ran up the court smiling and Moochie Norris jumped into his arms as Dallas called a timeout. But the Mavericks, playing their second straight game without leading scorer and rebounder Dirk Nowitzki, couldn't come up with any more answers.

Finley had 25 points and seven rebounds, and Eduardo Najera, who started in Nowitzki's place, came within a basket of his career high in points with 17. He matched his career high in rebounds with 15. Steve Nash scored 16 and Van Exel had 10.